NEW YORK (AP)  A large majority of workers over 45 plan to
stay on the job into their retirement years, with 80% saying most people
can't afford to quit work altogether, according to a new survey by the
AARP.

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The survey, released Monday along with the organization's list of best companies
for older employees, found that 69% of workers say they will keep working
in retirement.

About three-quarters of those surveyed say money is one of the major reasons
they plan to continue working. But about the same number said they enjoy
working and 84% said they would continue to hold jobs even if they are
financially set for life.

"We're finding there's a lot more going on here than just the need for money,"
said John Rother, AARP's policy director.

Many of the figures gathered in the survey are similar to those AARP has
seen in earlier studies. But in one notable difference, 56% of those surveyed
say they need to work to pay for health care costs for themselves and their
families, up 15% from a survey done in 1985.

The survey, conducted in May and June, is based on a national sample of 1,500
people between the ages of 45 and 74.

The survey, AARP officials say, points to the need for employers to do more
to attract and retain older workers, especially in industries with a tight
labor supply. While such efforts are not yet common, they are highlighted
in the group's awards to 15 employers for the way they deal with older workers.

Many of the companies being awarded offer older workers the chance to work
flexible schedules, to share jobs with others or to shift to part-time. Some
do so while allowing workers to keep their health care coverage and other
benefits.

Other employers are being honored for efforts like mentoring programs, offering
bonuses to older workers for coaching younger ones. Winners were chosen from
37 employers who applied for the designation.